This woman is a multi-talented person who is always smiling. She is a wife, mum of 2, a barrister, vocalist, a dancer, a youth pastor, and the creative director of “Classe de la danse” Her lifestyle is constantly challenging me. Never does a day go by without her sharing the gospel of Christ to someone.
She is that kind of person who looks shy but not ashamed to spread the good news anywhere. When she performes, every mind is captured and captivated. She is deep, as well as soulful. I am excited to have this interview with her and dear Bolanle, If there is a song I want you to direct and as well dance too, that would be Gemstones Feat Tasha Cobbs- Break every chain. Please meet my lovely Guest: Barr. Mrs. Bolanle Adejugbe
Barr. Creative Director. Pastor Mrs Bolanle Adejuyigba
Prisy – What is your definition of dance and what is the correlation between dance and singing?
Bolanle – Dance is the movement of the body in a rhythmic manner to a piece of music. Dance cannot be separated from singing. Singing is part of music while dancing is movement to music. Dancing and singing are intertwined.
Prisiy- When and how did you start to dance? What is your specialty of dance?
Bolanle- – I started to dance as a child, precisely in children’s church. Then I would create dance steps to a particular song, teach my friends and then we present in the main church. I continued dancing in secondary school, teens church till I got to the university. In the University (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria), I became a member of a Christian club called The Praise Club where I joined their dance group Hephzibah. We performed in various Christian programs and shows. Also I used to dance in my campus fellowship The Redeemed Christian Fellowship. Upon graduation from the university, I thought it should continue, so ‘Classe de la danse’ came to be. As to my speciality, I dance salsa, hiphop, African contemporary, pantomime among other styles of dance.
Prisy- Which is your true love: singing or dance?
Bolanle as a Singer
Bolanle- –(smiles) I love both singing and dancing. I love the arts as a whole.
Prisy- How do you convey messages through dance and what type of messages do you convey?
Bolanle- –One very important factor in presenting a dance piece is to understand the message behind the song or the music. In my view, dancing is the interpretation of music. The dancer has to take up the character involved and present accordingly to his or her audience. Just like an actor or actress interprets his or her script. Most of time we create concepts to enable this interpretation.
We portray positive, inspirational messages to our audience depending on the event at hand. For instance for a themed occasion like a wedding, we portray love as a beautiful thing to experience, just to mention a few instances.
Prisy – In your views, do you think every singer must know how to dance?
Bolanle –In my own view, it is not mandatory for a singer to know how to dance. However ‘knowing how to dance’ as a singer is an added advantage. It enhances your stage performance and helps you interpret the music more. Nowadays, choreographers, creative directors and dancers are available to cover up for that inability to dance. So employing one of such professionals would aid.
Bolanle: Creative Director “Classe de La danse”
Prisiy- How did “Classe de la danse” come to be? Why that name and what does it mean?
Bolanle- –Like I stated earlier, upon graduation from the University, I felt I had to continue the performing arts because it was my passion. In 2005, I shared the vision with four of my friends Mrs Laide Williams (nee odebiyi) Dapo Johnson, Jumoke Johnson and Yomi Badejo and we started the group ‘Classe de la danse’ We used to present in Christian shows, churches. Subsequently, other members joined, some had to relocate, we have been on ever since.
As to the meaning of the name and why that name, as a child I had always loved to own a dance class in Nigeria. So when the need to start the outfit came, I felt naming the outfit ‘The Dance Class’ was apt. I love the French language, although I cannot speak French, so I came a friend who was a French student to give me the translation of the name in French. That was how the name came to be.
Prisy- Work me through the process of “Classe de la danse”
Bolanle as a Creative Director
Bolanle- – We are an entertainment, fitness and arts outfit registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria. We provide wholesome entertainment content for our clients in the form of dance classes, events presentations, nuptial dances, aerobics, and artistic concepts just to mention a few. Our vision is to present God to the world through entertainment and arts. Also to showcase the beauty of the African culture and arts. We fuse the elements of arts (poetry, dance, music, drama etc together to achieve this.
Mode of Operation
We operate through four modes which are as follows:
- Dance classes which involve our training programs, our dancers’ network, mentoring of young artistic people etc.
- Dance troupe which is our dance group
- Events which involves us presenting themed dances at events such as weddings, celebrations, corporate events, churches etc, and also training of the celebrants for their celebration dance presentations.
- Productions which is the arm that organises our shows, projects and manages my singing brand ‘Bolanle’.
Our target audience can be deduced from our mode of operation and vision, basically lovers of arts, celebrants, the young and old, the world as a whole. We uphold ‘clean, positive, inspirational and Godly entertainment.
We have worked with reputable organisations, churches and individuals, some of which are: The Bridge Network, Nustreams Conference Centre, Ibadan, British American Tobacco Company, Global Harvest Children and Teens Church Headquarters etc.
In 2010,we anchored the ‘Learn a dance’ section of the British American Tobacco company Family day. It was a day when members of staff and their family members gathered together to have fun. Also in the year 2010, we organised an artistic show titled ‘The Rites of passage’ at the Nustreams Conference Centre, Ibadan Nigeria. It was an evening of reflection on life and the importance of man allowing God take pre eminence in his life endeavours. This was done through the various dance pieces, singing performances, poetry, drama, visual arts being presented. It was organised in partnership with our friends.
As to membership, we head hunt our members and organise rehearsals in accordance to our job schedules. We encourage the creativity of our members particularly in terms of costume designing and creation. We have had various challenges over the years but have learnt to be flexible and creative in solving those challenges. We have come too far to quit, quiting is not an option. There is always a way around every challenge.
Prisy – Where do you see ‘Classe de la danse’ five years from now?
Bolanle- In the next five years, I see growth and expansion and a larger clientele base. We would also have started our fitness programs. By God’s grace we would organise more shows, launch an album from ‘Bolanle’ just to mention a few.
Prisy – Knowing you to be a singer and a dancer, do you still do any performances since you are focused on Training?
Bolanle- –As stated earlier, we are not only focused on training only. I sing under my singing brand ‘Bolanle’ which is being managed by Classe de la danse Productions. For the dancing, I would rather prefer to be behind the scene which is seeing to the logistics of the presentations. I have carved my own niche which is ‘creative director’, it enables me to not only see to the dances, but also see to logistics involved ranging from costuming to choreography etc.
Prisy- Oh wow! But watching you dance is so refreshing and cool. I hope you get to dance once in a while.
Prisy- Who and what inspires your dance moves and who would you love to dance with?
Bolanle- – The Holy Spirit inspires me. I’m also highly sensitive to my environment just anything could inspire me ranging from songs, people, nature to just anything.
I would love to dance with Funke Sodade and Lovett both of the Spirit of David. I just love those women on stage. Permit me to add, I would love to sing and perform with ASA (I love her rich and deep African music) and Ty Bello (I love her creativity and voice range)Also would love to meet with my role model Mrs Bolanle Austen- Peters, the Ceo of TERRACULTURE in Lagos, Nigeria. I call her “the artistic lawyer”.
JUST BOLANLE:
JUST BOLANLE
Prisy – As a Wife, Mother, Lawyer, Teens church teacher and Creative Director, how do you balance these duties?
Bolanle- – As a wife and Mother, my family comes first. It is my first ministry. I have learnt to delegate to team members or outsource to other friends who are into the dance business, especially where a job would coincide my duties as a mother and wife.
As a Lawyer, I am into Corporate law, Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property Law among others. Intellectual Property Law and Entertainment Law seeks to protect the creative rights of an artiste/creative person, these areas of Law are not too far from ‘the arts ’. Law is a plus for me because it helps me in my dealings with clients and colleagues.
As a Teens Church teacher in the Global Harvest Teens Church Headuarters, I mentor teenagers in the church who are gifted in the arts. I supervise their presentations, help in their choreography, give constructive criticism to make them better and give them a lot of motivation. This is one of the visions we uphold in Classe de la danse.Its like an extension of my work as a creative director.
Prisy – Mention 5 things you cherish in life?
Bolanle- –My relationship with God.
My family
My ministry
My career
My relationships.
Prisy – who would you love to give a shoutout to?
Bolanle –My shout out goes to all the members, Clients and friends of Classe de la danse who have supported the dream over the years. To the cherished members (past and present) Tomiwa Ilesanmi, Muyiwa Adetuberu, Chineye Okudili, Tessy Ushie, Gordon Asseh,Sumbo olarenwaju, Chioma Chukwu, Morenikeji Lasisi, Niyi Fowosire, Dorcas Issa Daudu and thanks to Praiseworld Radio for the opportunity.
God bless you and Thank you. Love you guys MUAH!
Thanks to my lovely guest and friend: Barr. Mrs Bolanle. God bless and expand your ministry.
SPECIAL EDITION: I challenged some Lovely Female Artistes on social media to a spontaneous 2 mins Song Composition- {video and Audio} Watchout for this special edition..It was totally unexpected to them..LOL! Some accepted the challenge.. and I am still in the process of challenging others that have caught my interest.. #Excited. Stay tuned..#FemaleGospelArtistesChallenge
Priscilla
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